Getting to Excel for London Tri
gunforhire
Posts: 457
in General Chat
I live just outside London (Twickenham), and have only ever travelled to Excel via Rail and Underground.
Just wondering how other Londoners will be getting there with all their gear and bikes?
Not sure what parking will be like out there but would like the option of driving.
Cheers[;)]
Just wondering how other Londoners will be getting there with all their gear and bikes?
Not sure what parking will be like out there but would like the option of driving.
Cheers[;)]
0
Comments
If you get into paddington you could just cycle to the Excel for a nice warm up the day before, or if thats a bit far just cycle to Tower Bridge and get the express service from Tower Gateway to Excel (for athletes only).
I am either going to cycle down myself or I am lucky in that my offices are right next to Tower of London so I can just leave my stuff there overnight and head straight onto the DLR on the day.
I'm racing at 14:10 though - anyone else here in that wave?
Anyone else staying at the same hotel..
Jack - I'm in the 14:10 wave. I'll be the guy drowning in the Thames - first open water swim. What time you aiming to complete it in?
Car it is!
I have a 12:15 start on Saturday.
Enjoy it! I have done 2 open water swims now, first being Blenheim which was quite easy and not that crowded as was in waves, then the UK Ironman 70.3 which was absolute madness as everyone was let off together - literally for the first 500m every stroke was over/under someone else.
The trick is just stay relaxed, if you relax you swim well and your breathing will stay in hand. If you tense up thats when the problems occur on the swim and after. The other trick is that when its really crowded at the start over emphasise the turn for the breath - as you'll want quite a bit of air space to deal with waves/splashing etc.
No idea on times to be honest, haven't relaly done much Tri stuff since the Ironman 70.3. Swim will be about 30 mins, bike about 1.5 hours or something then about a 50 min run - so I guess about 2:20 from looking at that! But who knows!
Not sure about your maths or maybe it's my interpretation. Is 1.5 hours supposed to be 1hr30 mins or 1hr5mins? Cos if it's 1hr30 I think 2:20 could be beyond ya! [image]http://forum.220magazine.com/micons/m11.gif[/image]
How did you get on?
Really didn't enjoy the swim though, found myself on the inside and so had people trying to swim over me almost throughout the whole swim! So never quite settled into a rythmn. Bike was bloody windy but the run for me went really well.
Whats the deal with being a sub 2:30, I see there is a special entry section for it on the website? Also is there anyway to find out how you did overall as opposed to just in your age group?
Has anybody else had experience of dizziness after the swim; any tips to combat or avoid it?
- Thanks
Other observations on the event were that considering the number of competitors, it went very smoothly; the support was fantastic at several points on the route, but the cycle turning points were very tight!
Tricks to deal with it are to kick harder than usual for the last 100m of the swim or so and then don't rush when you get out, take a few seconds to orient yourself and then just jog off, don't go sprinting up to T1.
Hope this helps!
Also had stomach cramps on the run and my stomach has been dodgey ever since I've finished. Think its something to do with all the water I swallowed on the swim!
Completed it in 2:37 (swim 33, bike 1:08 and run 49) so not the sub 2:30 i set myself but still quite happy for my first tri. Awesome experience and will definitely be back net year.